A brand manager is someone who develops a company's marketing strategies based on its services and target audience. A brand manager is in charge of determining how a firm will interact with and promote its target demographic or consumers. Branding and brand management are critical for every business since it determines how customers view the firm. As a result, a Brand Manager plays a critical role in the business-to-consumer interaction. A corporation's business strategy is written and implemented by brand managers. A brand manager's responsibilities include style, promotion, branding, online marketing, and communications, among others.

A Brand Manager is one of the corporation's highest-ranking roles, and accomplished individuals are often chosen for the post. To execute their work successfully, a Brand Manager must have a strong understanding of the corporation's goods and activities as well as the marketplace. Brand managers are in charge of developing and executing brand marketing strategies.

These marketing tactics raise customer recognition of a commodity or company name, word, emblem, logo, appearance, or a mix of these that sets the vendor apart from its rivals. Large corporations spend a lot of money on branding techniques in order to increase product recognition which boosts sales and consumer loyalty.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any degree is viable, but opting for B.Com/BBA will provide a better overview and understanding of the market than you do from other courses.
• Must possess at least 50% aggregate from a recognized institution in 12th, from any board PUC/CBSE/ICSE/ISC, etc. However, the cut-off margin varies with the selection process of different colleges.
• There are no standardized entrance exams for enrolling in Brand Management. The availability of these exams is exclusively based on the prospects of the University.
• Any degree is viable, but opting for B.Com/BBA or a diploma in marketing will provide a better overview and understanding of the market than you do from other courses.
• An M.BA in Marketing/Brand Management can also prove to be helpful while looking for a higher degree and better learning.

Tasks to perform

• Marketing strategy must be carried out in order to stay current with client trends and to try to forecast emerging outcomes.
• Developing plans and executing advertising initiatives throughout print, television, and internet media to guarantee that products and services fulfil consumers' requirements while also establishing brand reputation.
• Communicating with customers and collaborating with coworkers from other organizations, including advertising associates, marketing professionals, and former corporate officers.
• Proficient in scheduling and program management, as well as the capacity to work on numerous tasks at once.
• Recognition of current events as well as the capacity to respond to client requests.

Knowledge required

• Media Production – Understanding of media creation, interaction, and distribution strategies and methodologies is required in telecommunications and entertainment.
• Media and Marketing — Familiarity of media creation, engagement, and distribution strategies and methodologies is required for communication systems and multimedia. Printed, auditory, and electronic media are all examples of various ways to inform and amuse.
• Finance and Management — Understanding of corporate governance concepts and procedures, as well as capital industry, finance, and business information monitoring and interpretation.
• English Grammar — Familiarity in English Grammar, the form, and substance of the English language, along with the context and pronunciation of words, principles of grammar, and language.
• Advertising and Distribution — Entails understanding the values and strategies for displaying, advertising, and distributing goods or services. Marketing strategies and strategies, merchandise presentation, distribution procedures, and sales management processes are all part of this.

Skills required

• Rational interpretation – Use of rationality and inference to distinguish the positives and disadvantages of creative improvements, assumptions, or responses to situations.
• Influence — Inspiring and persuading people to change their behaviour and support a certain product, brand, or organisation to increase sales.
• Strategic Thinking — Evaluating the possible expenses and advantages of various decisions in order to recognise the best one.
• Processes Assessment — Entails identifying metrics or indices of service quality as well as the steps required to enhance or change effectiveness in relation to the system's objectives.
• Critical Analysis — Learning and identifying the strengths and weaknesses along with providing solutions and countermeasures to reduce the impact of potential problems.

Steps To Become A Brand Manager

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is the typical entry point for those aspiring to become brand managers. Relevant undergraduate majors include marketing, business administration, advertising, communications, journalism, or public relations. Coursework in areas like market research, consumer behavior, brand strategy, and communications will build a solid base of branding knowledge. Gaining practical experience in marketing roles through internships is highly recommended during your studies.

Step 2: Consider Earning a Master's Degree

Pursuing a master’s degree is not essential but can provide advanced marketing skills and set you apart from other candidates. Suitable graduate programs include marketing, brand management, market research, or business administration (MBA). An MBA with a marketing concentration is a common credential for brand managers. The additional coursework and internship opportunities offered through a master’s program can give you an edge.

Step 3: Start Your Career in an Entry-Level Marketing Role

Most brand managers start in a junior marketing position like marketing Manager, assistant brand manager, or associate product manager. Look for roles at consumer product or service companies that will expose you to marketing and branding work. Starting out in a rotational development program can also provide experience across different marketing functions. Use this hands-on time to build knowledge of market research, messaging, campaign execution, and marketing analytics.

Step 4: Progress to Assistant Brand Manager

After 2-3 years in a junior position, you can typically move up to a role as an assistant brand manager. Here you support and learn from the lead brand manager while managing specific portions of marketing campaigns and brand plans. This experience will develop brand strategy skills and prepare you for the lead manager position. Continue expanding your expertise in market analysis, budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration.

Step 5: Advance to Brand Manager

With 4-5 years total experience, you will be ready to transition into a brand manager role. As brand manager, your core responsibilities include:

• Developing strategic marketing plans for your brand(s)
• Directing market research and analysis of consumer insights
• Defining brand positioning, voice, and visual identity
• Managing creation of campaigns, content, and assets
• Overseeing product development and merchandising
• Administering marketing budgets and tracking ROI
• Leading cross-functional teams including agencies
• Reporting on brand and campaign performance

Sharpen skills in communication, presentation, leadership, project management, and data analysis. Stay updated on industry and marketing trends.

Step 6: Expand Your Experience

Once established as a brand manager, you can boost your expertise through:

• Managing larger brands and categories
• Leading rebranding projects
• Developing branding strategies for new products or campaigns
• Taking on more complex, global, or cross-channel initiatives
• Advancing to Senior Brand Manager, Group Manager, or Director
• Learning new marketing channels like digital, social media, experiential

Pursue opportunities to diversify your brand management experience and showcase your abilities.

Job roles offered

Once you procure the required qualifications for becoming a Brand Manager, a myriad of options is open to you. There are multiple projects you can undertake throughout this line of work, and there are many other fields you can branch out to as well.

• Membership Director: For a membership organization or group, a membership director leads and manages enrollment operations. They are primarily involved in Developing membership-growth-oriented activities, strategies, and regulations. The role of a membership director entails creating, updating, and distributing information to actual and potential representatives. A bachelor's degree may be required. In most cases, the membership director answers to upper management. In bigger groups of intermediate complexity, the membership director generally administers through subordinate managers and executives. This type of system contributes to strategic choices affecting the operational area of responsibility. This might also help with the budgeting process. equipped to handle escalating operational difficulties that necessitate collaboration with other divisions.
• Channel Manager: Connections with distribution channels are developed, serviced, and grown by channel managers. The number of partnerships under a Channel Manager's management is influenced by the magnitude of their company. Establishing sales strategy, dealing with partnerships, and establishing and motivating their sales force are all part of this position. Upper management is frequently represented by Channel Managers. The answer to the Vice President of Channel Sales in a typical organizational structure. In order to create effective and profitable connections with corporate sponsors, service providers must complete a variety of responsibilities. We look at many employment contracts for Channel Managers and compiled an overview of the greatest common Channel Manager tasks and competencies.
• Retail Marketing Manager: Retail marketing managers work diligently at retailers to guarantee that items are well-received and that the firm meets its overall sales targets. While retail marketing managers might attend storefronts sometimes, they usually spend the majority of their time in an office environment at the company's command center. This is a fast-paced profession that necessitates innovative thinking and the ability to fulfill strict schedules. The marketing managers of a firm generally report to merchandise marketing professionals. The precise commitments of a retail marketing manager may vary based on the sort of retail goods that their firm produces, but they often undertake four key activities. Marketing departments typically have an expenditure, and the commerce marketing manager may be responsible for managing and overseeing that expenditure. Because this money is used to launch new initiatives and sustain old ones, the marketing manager must actively monitor them.
• Head of Advertising: The major role of the Head of Advertising Sales is to manage and oversee the Advertising Sales department's activities. He'll be in charge of creating promotional strategies, multimedia kits, digital advertising agreements, and other marketing sales collateral. The Head of Advertising Sales seeks out new markets and develops and implements unique programs, marketing incentives, collaborations, and other creative, ad sales facilitating, and ad income-producing possibilities for the company. In collaboration with senior management consulting, he is also responsible for managing the departmental budget. The Head of Advertising Sales evaluates the effectiveness of the company's promotion and advertising employees, as well as having a key part in their recruiting and hiring. In this capacity, he serves as a guide to important advertising sales employees, supporting them with duties as needed, fostering their education and training, preparing them to take over his function in his absences or resignation.
• Circulation Manager: Circulation managers guarantee that diverse publications continue to exist. These persons are in charge of the transmission of the country's newspapers and journals. Beforehand and importantly, circulation managers are communication specialists. Any circulation manager's main goal is to build relationships with merchants and wholesalers in order to increase the number of catalogs, publications, and journals they disseminate. These experts may use marketing efforts to provide special subscriber numbers to customers in order to boost circulation rates. These agreements must be matched against a publishing expense, which circulation managers generally create as well.

Career opportunities

Brand Manager can opt for various fields of work in the companies listed below:

• Flipkart
• Razorpay
• Amazon
• Myntra
• Talentiser
• Meesho
• Manipal Global Education Services
• Inshorts
• Cipla
• Dunzo

Colleges offering courses

• Teerthanker Mahaveer University (TMU), Moradabad
• Shreeyash Institute Of Management (SIM), Aurangabad
• Ratan Global Business School (RGBS), Hyderabad
• Anjuman-I-Islams Institute Of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (AIHMCT), Mumbai
• Bharati Vidyapeeth College Of Hotel And Tourism Management Studies (BVCHTMS), Mumbai
• Indian School Of Business Management & Administration (ISBM), Delhi
• Dharamjeevi Institute Of Professional Education (DIPE), Kurukshetra
• Lucknow Institute Of Technology (LIT), Lucknow
• Indian Business School Of Advanced Management Studies (IBSAMS), Mumbai
• Institute Of Management Studies (IMS INDORE), Indore